A humbled Peerless One is looking to rebound after a disastrous week.
After starting one streak earlier this month, I began another oen last week, one I’d just as soon end this week.
There I was, 8-0 with consecutive 4-0 weeks and finally in the black, only to go 0-4 last week.
Calgary coughs up a lead.
B.C. coughs up a lead.
Toronto holds serve against Winnipeg, which didn’t do me any good because I picked the Blue Bummers and the points and they came up short on both counts.
And Montreal hammered Edmonton, which I’d chosen with the points. But it didn’t matter, the Als won easily.
So, it’s back to the drawing board.
This time there will be no picture of Peerless hoisted on players’ shoulders.
Every time a certain editor does that – no mention that it’s Rob – the Peerless One plummets to reality.
So this week, it’s a test to see if I can recover and stop the losing skid.
Perry’s Peerless Picks, soon to be included in a documentary about Randall the Handle, entitled Inside the Lines With the Man Who Makes the Lines, looks to regain his confidence with Canadian pigskin prognostications.
Friday
Montreal (8-3) vs. Winnipeg (3-8)
Quarterback Anthony Calvillo returned to the Als’ lineup after two games on the sidelines with a bruised sternum and did enough to point his team to victory.
He wasn’t great, but against Edmonton it didn’t really matter. Look for Calvillo and the Als to be much sharper. They are not the kind of team that will settle for another passable performance.
Head coach Marc Trestman will be too demanding, as will Calvillo. The Als need to be tough at the line to hold off the Bombers’ tremendous pass rush off the edge. So that means quick hitches, toss plays or a healthy doe of running back Avon Cobourne. In fact, this will really be the key.
Winnipeg’s defence is extremely physical, so that can be countered by establishing the run. Calvillo is also crafty enough to try and bait the Bombers’ corners, so don’t be surprised if there is the odd pump-fake and a deep pass if the corners bite.
The Bombers are playing for their playoff lives. They simply have to win from here on in to have any chance of making a crossover. They need to really let Fred Reid carry the ball. No more mistakes. This applies to receivers dropping balls and coaches making errors in playcalling.
This is a statement game for Winnipeg.
They are at home and can’t continue to self-destruct. If they do, they’ll hear it from the faithful. Head coach Paul LaPolice is under the gun from some parts of the media and the fans, but what really matters is if the players still believe in him.
There’s nothing like a win against the top team in the East to bring everything together.
Randall has the Als by seven.
Prediction: Als to cover.
Saturday
Saskatchewan (7-4) vs. Hamilton (6-5)
The Riders rose to the challenge last week showing guts and skill.
That was the kind of performance that indicated just how good this team can be when everything is working well: Offence, defence and special teams.
And special teams are a key area now.
The team didn’t lose field position or turn over the ball because of sloppy returns. That was the one key aspect of the team’s game that continued to be a problem. It shouldn’t be anymore with Weston Dressler handing the ball or possibly as a backup in some situations. I think Ryan Grice-Mullen can do the job to keep Dressler fresh. But now it’s about leadership.
The Riders defensive line is coming undone due to injuries. Rush end Brent Hawkins and defensive tackle Marcus Adams are out, as is linebacker Daniel Francis. In for this game on the line are Montez Murphy and Ryan Lucas, so it’s up to key players such as middle linebacker Barrin Simpson, who is having a comeback season, and potential Defensive Player of the Year safety James Patrick, to pull up the slack.
Joel Bell returns to the lineup at tackle. The Riders have been known to give up the long play, so this is where the corners need to be better, in particular the wideside corner. Surely this will be an area that Hamilton quarterback Kevin Glenn exposes. Saskatchewan is 1-4 on the road this year, but 3-2 against the East.
They beat Hamilton by 13 earlier this season, but that was the game that Arland Bruce lit it up with 272 receiving yards. Hamilton scored an impressive win last week in B.C., creating numerous turnovers, but a controversial touchdown that happened on a blown official’s call didn’t hurt. Newly-signed rush end Stevie Baggs makes his Tiger-Cats’ debut and faces his former team. You can already here the chirping.
Saskatchewan hasn’t always played well in Hamilton.
Randall has this as a pick’em.
Prediction: Saskatchewan.
B.C. (3-8) vs. Calgary (9-2)
There’s absolutely no way the Lions are going to win if they turn over the ball or drop passes.
They have simply found too many ways to lose games this year. It appears as if quarterback Casey Printers is flustered at times because he can’t play with the same mobility he has when he’s healthy. The fact he has had to run horizontally to avoid the oncoming rush due to poor protection up front is contributing to his problems. The Lions can try to make things easier on themselves by making good use of the run. They have an excellent 1-2 punch that can go interior with power back Jerome Messam or slash with the versatile Yonus Davis. That’s assuming Jamal Robertson isn’t inserted back into the lineup.
Some of the Lions’ best success this year has been with the run. And why not do that to slow down the rush of the Stamps? The Stamps’ streak ended last week with a loss against Saskatchewan, but they didn’t embarrass themselves in defeat.
If they needed anything to charge them up, a loss was it. Playing at home against B.C. could equate to blood in the water for a shark. The Stamps are deadly on defence and it’s hard to believe with the multiple fronts they display that they can’t stop the Lions.
Even if the Lions run, look for the Stamps to use run blitzes off the edge to counterattack. I don’t think defensive co-ordinator Chris Jones will make the same mistakes as he did last week leaving the middle exposed because a clever receiver such as Geroy Simon will know how to exploit it, assuming Printers isn’t on his back or running for cover.
Calgary is a lofty 9.5 point favourite.
Prediction: Stamps to cover.
Sunday
Edmonton (2-9) vs. Toronto (6-5) (in Moncton)
The Eskimos continue the second half of a road trip that began miserably in Montreal. Once again, they simply committed too many turnovers to end any chance of winning. Exactly where this team will find scoring is hard to know. With running back Arkee Whitlock sidelined for the rest of the season and the passing game totally befuddled, it will take a monumental game from the defence to stop Toronto. The Eskimo defence is better than its given credit for because it’s on the field way too much.
They had some fresh bodies come back last week. Toronto beat the Bombers last week with excellent defence and great special teams.
Look, if the offence is struggling – or quarterback Cleo Lemon, in particular – good defence and great runbacks and solid field-goal kicking matter. The Argos made a key decision last week to sign field-goal kicker Justin Medlock and it immediately paid dividends, as did the signing of rush end Ricky Foley.
Randall has the Argos a tepid three-point favourite.
Prediction: Argos to cover.
Last week: 0-4
Record on the season: 22-21-1.
